A young adult mythology based fantasy with sea monsters, dystopian world, a hunger games type race, and friends to lovers type relationship. Good ideas, maybe needs a bit more editing to make it flow better?

I- I am FREAKING SPEECHLESS, LIKE HOW-WHEN-WHAT THE HOLY TRECKING BAKED BLOODY SHREDDED, DRAGON INFESTED PURGATORY JUST HAPPENED-

I need time to come to terms with these messed up feelings.
....
And I'm back.

How is it even possible that this book shook me to the CORE OF MY VERY BEING and left me for dead at the side of the road???? How??? I'll tell you, because yes. '

The characters? Were amazing, surprisingly didn't get on my nerves (just kidding, I loved them like I love donuts, completely and obsessively) and gave me everything I could ever ask of a character.

a.) A personality (I know, these days, it's very difficult for amazing characters to have equally amazing personalities, however, this book made it WORK)
b.) A backstory (You don't know how much I really love this)
c.) And the side characters were also good!

Speaking of 'good' but not great, we have the comparison with the Hunger Games. I feel like the energy was present, but the outcome was less than. The plot had the possibility to be magnificent but, even though I didn't love it, it was better than expected. And the writing made for it! The descriptions made me visualize everything without overwhelming me, which I enjoyed greatly.

Overall, a very nice read for the mood of action-packed, monster-filled, fast-paced bonanza! If you're looking for a quick yet indulging read for easy fantasy readers? I think this might be your cup of tea.

Found this book a little confusing, it felt like it was trying to be a lot all at once. The idea behind it is good, however I think it’s just a bit all over the place which made it hard for me to get fully into.

Such a gripping read. I loved The Hunger Games vibes and the high-stakes story. It really kept me reading!

This book was very interesting. It almost reminded me too much of the scoriop races mixed with the hunger games. I think that I didn't find this very unique and the plot was a bit slow to get through. I found my interest lagging although it has an interesting premise.

This one held so much promise, and I was drawn in by the Hunger Games blurb. That said this book feels like an amalgamation of a few different YA fantasy/dystopian stories and while not inherently bad, just not as original as you’d hope it to be. I did love the monster world that parallels the caste system in India and those south Asian influences within the story!

Overall it’s enjoyable to read and does end in such a way I’m tempted to continue on in the series. I’d definitely recommend this to some younger readers I know, but older readers may find it too similar to other books and predictable.

A pulse-pounding test of determination and rebellion unfolds in a truly distinctive world inhabited by awe-inspiring creatures.

In the realm of Sollonia, where a privileged elite of Landers holds sway, Koral Hunter and her brother Emrik toil as Maristag hunters, belonging to the lower-caste Renters. Despite being the sole hunters on their island, their earnings fall short, leaving them mired in debt, particularly due to their younger sister’s constant need for medication. Faced with the prospect of an arranged marriage to alleviate their family’s financial burden, Koral takes a daring leap and enrolls in the unprecedented Glory Race—a competition no Renter has ever dared to enter. Against overwhelming odds, Koral secures her spot in the race, drawing upon her skills as a lifelong Maristag hunter to gain an advantage in this perilous contest.

Even though the story was a tad predictable but still overall it was an engaging and enjoyable tale nonetheless.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A great fantasy book . Definitely recommended to fantasy readers . I liked the author writing style . Would love to read other books of the author.
The title and the cover made me pick up the book

I have mixed feelings about this book. I read this book as well as listened to the audiobook of it, and if I had just stuck to reading it, I think I would’ve enjoyed it much more and stuck with it. The narrator was not enjoyable at all to me, and ended up ruining the book. I couldn’t finish it unfortunately. One day I do think I’ll go back and try it again, just without the audiobook.

I can definitely see the logic in the comparative titles for this being HUNGER GAMES and FABLE. If you loved either of those I 100% recommend Monsters Born And Made! What an adventure. Koral lives in this rough, deadly world catching and training vicious sea creatures for the upper class's sport and Glory Games. There were times that I marvelled at her character's ability to get through a situation. Berwah has really instilled the desperate sense of a divided world and THAT CLIFFHANGER. I gasped at the lengths some of the characters would go to to keep the status quo from changing. Overall, an incredibly rich, visual and gritty world that I could definitely see being a movie and a cast of characters you want to fight for.

I found this book to be very enjoyable. It was quite predictable but that did not take away from the fact that I liked it. I think the water creatures are a special element and I like the dome/chariot race aspect.
It did feel reminiscent of Hunger Games, but I can imagine it hard not to make comparisons when HG has had a large cultural impact.

Monsters Born and Made follows Koral as she throws herself into a deadly magical competition and dangerous political schemes.

Koral was a passionate main character whose ambition was the main driving force of the plot. The second chance romance was a nice touch, but I would have liked to see more development on all fronts. I felt like Koral's character got lost in the intensity of competition, and as this book was written in first person, it was hard to keep track of the political aspects as a result.

I'd recommend this book to fans of the Hunger Games and These Violent Delights.

Monsters born and Made by Tanvi Berwah is a riveting story that bewitched me from the start. Berwah's intricate storytelling and well-developed characters create a compelling narrative that delves into the complexities of human nature. While the pacing occasionally falters, the thought-provoking themes and moral dilemmas posed by the book make it a such a captivating read that has your heart falter. This was a very thought-provoking read.

Thanks to Tanvi Berwah and Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with an ARC of this debut novel through Netgalley! It doesn’t affect my review in any way.

Koral of Sollonia is a Hunter of Maristags. And her family of Hunters have always held the official title of capturing such beautiful and deadly creatures for the Glory Race, which is only held every four years. But to unforeseen events, Koral and her older brother Emrik have failed to catch one in time for the 150th event. And in an extremely oppressive, elite society, the odds are always stacked against the poor. So that’s when Koral decides to participate in this year’s race. This book promises an exhilarating story of rallying against oppression and prejudice and what it means to survive despite all setbacks.

This book is set in a dystopian society created based off of South Asian foklore. I liked the author’s fast-paced writing with the little element of romance between Koral and Dorian. I applaud how realistically Monsters Born and Made tackles social injustice against the underclasses and how the hatred and discrimination by people with wealth and privilege can power a government to incur unjust authority. And this is experienced by everyone, especially minority communities around the world and I really like how Tanvi Berwah navigates her writing in this standalone. The best I could give this book would be my current rating of 3 ⭐️ simply because I didn’t enjoy it enough. It was inevitably left to the reader’s interpretation on how they think the story truly concludes, but I believe there should’ve been more to Koral and Stormgold’s end.

Monsters Born and Made is a competition-style dystopian book. It has an enjoyable plot even if, at times, it may seem predictable. But isn't it that way with a lot of these books? Overall, I found it a good read and was pleasantly surprised.

I read this and it felt like I was constantly running, stumbling over my feet to keep up with the action. There was a lot going on all the time, and sometimes I wondered if it was all going to get resolved. I like the premise, everyone loves an underdog.

A fantastic debut from an author to watch!! So many strengths across this book: the world building and setting (post-apocalyptic Hunger Games vibes), an all encompassing competition / race with great pacing and exciting action, warring factions and a main character caught up in the struggle between them, and SEA CREATURES! Loved the author's exploration of caste and relationships--thought it was brilliantly done. Overall, a great addition to the YA fantasy genre from a fabulous new voice.

Unfortunately I DNF'd this only a few chapters in....and it was one of my most anticipated books. It has an interesting premise but the execution was lackluster and overall the story felt really generic.

DNF at ~45%

I think the main character is quite well thought-out and I liked her. I also liked the incorporation of maristags and the caste system for the worldbuilding. I just didn't care about the plot, the other characters or the competition.

This was a really interesting debut with some great aspects and some that for me, needed a bit of development. Firstly, I loved the setting. The world here had a post-apocalyptic vibe, which I appreciated and the social commentary regarding the separation of Landers and Renters was very well done. I also really enjoyed the creatures and the way in which they played an integral part of the plot. My main issues come with the pacing, which at times lagged a bit for me and the characters, who all fell a little bit flat. I applaud Tanvi Berwah for having the guts to finish the novel in the way they did as it definitely leaves the reader hoping for a sequel. Overall, this was an enjoyable read that I would recommend.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.